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Dubník Opal Mines

This region of Slovakia boasts some of the most plentiful opal mines in the world.

Červenica, Slovakia

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no plumming, all miners had their own bucket they had to wash in a stream in the presence of a foreman to be sure they were not sneaking out opals!   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
A mine shaft descending into the depths.   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
a ventilation shaft   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
Four branching tunnels   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
the mine entrance   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
the mine contains many branching tunnels.   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
“Dragon eyes”, a back lit tunnel feature near the end of the tour.   babblefu / Atlas Obscura User
Dubník Opal Mines   Autor: Slovakiaopal – Vlastní dílo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dubník Opal Mines   Autor: Slovakiaopal – Vlastné dielo, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54516816
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About

Eastern Slovakia has been mined for decades for opals. It's one of the most mined locations for the precious gemstones in the world outside of Australia. 

Today, you can actually walk through the shafts under Dubník hill, smell the opal, and uncover the history of mining in the region. One of the most famous opals ever discovered was found under Dubník, named Trojan Fire. The jewel once adorned the neck of Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon. The world's largest opal was also discovered in the Dubník. The opal, dubbed Harlequin, was discovered in 1775 and contained 2,970 carats. 

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Mines

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The easiest way to get mines is from Prešov, but Košice city is also not far.

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Published

September 4, 2019

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